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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
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| | | | Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 815 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 815 | I know this has been posted before but have not been able to find it. I have been using 10w30. If my memory is correct (lol) I think Jerry and Tim made suggestions as well as others about using 10w40? Steve | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 | 10w30 should work fine.
I think I have been using 15W-40 Rotella T for a few years?
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,878 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,878 | I use 15W-40 in everything on the farm, from the Massey-Ferguson tractor to the lawn mower and all the cars and trucks. No problems so far.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,378 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,378 | I use Mobil Delvac. It's about two thirds the cost of Rotella.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,214 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,214 | I either use Rotella 15w40 or Travelers 15w40 depending on which is on sale at TSC. Right now a gal of Travelers 15w40 goes for $9.99 at TSC. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,617 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,617 | Rotella 15w40 in almost everything.
Tractors, mower and all cars and trucks.
I buy a 55 gallon drum about every five years.
Not much cheaper, but a whole lot handier.
Except for the two rice burners we have.
No Jerry, they are not Honda's.
Pun intended.
Don
1967 GMC 9500 Fire Ladder Truck"The Flag Pole"In the Stovebolt Gallery1946 2-Ton grain truck 1946 3/4-ton pickup, 1953 1-ton pickup 1957 1-ton flatbed dually, 1954 Pontiac Straight Eight Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most! | | | | | Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 815 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 815 | What advantage if any, does 15w40 have over 10w30 and what is so special about Rotella? Just being curious as it seems to be the popular choice. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,617 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,617 | For me, Shell oil products were used in the nuke plant I worked at.
Almost all grease and oils, in safety related equipment were Shell.
Plus, I can get a barrel of it at Sam's Club. Real handy just to have it in the shop and decide to change oil in something.
Also keep extra filters on hand for everything.
For the ricers, I use Mobile products.
Don
1967 GMC 9500 Fire Ladder Truck"The Flag Pole"In the Stovebolt Gallery1946 2-Ton grain truck 1946 3/4-ton pickup, 1953 1-ton pickup 1957 1-ton flatbed dually, 1954 Pontiac Straight Eight Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most! | | | | | Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,214 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,214 | Rotella is a high quality Shell Oil product which is a positive.
It is actually blended for diesel engines so it contains additional additives for addressing the unique combustion byproducts prodused by diesels like soot and other byproducts that clean dirtier running diesel engines.
It used to have higher levels of ZDDP which is good for flat tappit cams/lifters like what is found in older gas engines. Some say they've cut back on the ZDDP but it supposedly still carries a higher content than modern gasoline engine rated oil.
Since Rotella is popular in the OTR trucking industry and Ag industry Shell sells huge amounts of it which helps to keep it's price down. It is a higher quality oil than many popular brands of std gasoline rated oils and costs much less.
I don't know of any negatives to running a diesel rated oil in a gasoline engine but when one discusses an engine oil topic you can expect a myriad of differing opinions LOL. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 | Very nicely described, Volfandt - thanks. | | |
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